Research culture and the 3Rs

The term research culture encompasses the actions and behaviours of individuals and the values and ethos of institutions, both of which can have a significant impact on the effective application of the 3Rs and the humane use of animals.

The NC3Rs is committed to facilitating an environment that supports reproducible and ethical research. We have produced a range of resources which many institutions are using to improve or strengthen their research culture. These resources (accessible in the left-hand menu) focus on experimental design and reporting, open research and communication, and promoting a culture of care. As a funder we also have a responsibility to help foster a fair and inclusive research culture.

The following external resources relate to improving the culture of research using animals.

• The RSPCA provides a range of resources on the ethical review of research using animals.
• The UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) has produced a primer on animal research. In partnership with Vitae and the UK Reproducibility Network, UKRIO has also published a report entitled Research integrity: a landscape study.
• UKRI’s Good research resource hub collates policies, guidance and standards on a range of topics including animal use, human and biological samples and research integrity.